The Diablo III Website has the first of the promised updates on the upcoming version 1.04 patch for Diablo III, which they say "is still a few weeks away," though they later specify the fourth week of August. The post gives an overview of things they are changing, including removing the averaging of gold find for a group, shrinking the gap between normal monsters and Elite packs (making normals less of a joke and elites less of a nightmare), dealing with some of the more difficult affixes, addressing the insanely small chance of finding anything useful, making two-handed weapons viable, getting rid of enrage timers, improving future legendary items, and finding ways to make some unused skills more useful and/or appealing. Here's the summary:

These are really just a few of the topline systems changes we’ll be making in 1.0.4, and we hope you’re looking forward to them as much as we are. We’ll of course have a lot more info coming at you in the weeks ahead on Legendary items, classes and more, as well as some interviews we’ll be holding shortly before the patch goes live – which, by the way, is currently targeted for the fourth week of August.

I like my steel swords; I'm a bit of a collector, but there aren't many craftsmen who make them any more; lately more and more people are getting into swordfighting and are taking preference to wooden swords which are easier to start with and more suited to casual bouts. I'm happy for them because swordfighting is gaining popularity and they are enjoying a fine sport and honing their swordsmanship. Hell, every now and then I use a wooden sword just for the change and its refreshing.

But what is starting to happen is that now its very hard to find a craftsman making new steel swords; since the majority of the new generation of swordfighters are quite content with wooden swords, the demand for wooden swords has skyrocketed. Its quite possible that later they prefer steel swords (if there are any left to find) as they experiment a bit. Who knows?

I dont judge them; my preference is simply for steel swords. Even if I try to get a new steel sword made, the craftsmen are using wooden parts as part of the structure, at first it was just the hilt, but now a blade itself which merely has a steel wire running through is sold as a steel sword; it has become very hard to find a place to get a new one made in the old style, which was once very popular but now seems to be dying.

Of course I feel a bit frustrated; But its not fair to blame the new generation that prefer wooden swords (for a lot of them its all they know). Who can I blame?

Of the steel swordfighhters and collectors, many have quit. Others have let their frustrations show. Most are quietly waiting, clinging on to the few craftsmen they can trust to not add wood to steel; hoping for a resurgence of steel.

I like it, but as a history buff and sword collector myself there is one issue I have with whats written above.

Arguably the best swordsman to ever walk the earth in Japan is Miyamoto Musashi. He is the man who wrote the Book of Five Rings, a book well worth reading. After he killed enough people, he decided to arm himself with two Bokken, wooden swords. He never once lost a fight.

A swordsman doesnt need steel to be deserving of the namesake.

Cool info - I'm no buff; but I knew this analogy would be taken too literally :S. Oh well, It was worth a try.

Lots of good changes there, shame that a lot of them seem to be reversions. I'm more interested in how they are fixing the classes up. At least things are moving in the right direction now, that counts for something in my books. I can forget a bad launch period and some dumb decisions if they redo enough of the game to make it enjoyable. I still wish they had some more environment variety and randomizaton but oh well, maybe in the xpac.

I like my steel swords; I'm a bit of a collector, but there aren't many craftsmen who make them any more; lately more and more people are getting into swordfighting and are taking preference to wooden swords which are easier to start with and more suited to casual bouts. I'm happy for them because swordfighting is gaining popularity and they are enjoying a fine sport and honing their swordsmanship. Hell, every now and then I use a wooden sword just for the change and its refreshing.

But what is starting to happen is that now its very hard to find a craftsman making new steel swords; since the majority of the new generation of swordfighters are quite content with wooden swords, the demand for wooden swords has skyrocketed. Its quite possible that later they prefer steel swords (if there are any left to find) as they experiment a bit. Who knows?

I dont judge them; my preference is simply for steel swords. Even if I try to get a new steel sword made, the craftsmen are using wooden parts as part of the structure, at first it was just the hilt, but now a blade itself which merely has a steel wire running through is sold as a steel sword; it has become very hard to find a place to get a new one made in the old style, which was once very popular but now seems to be dying.

Of course I feel a bit frustrated; But its not fair to blame the new generation that prefer wooden swords (for a lot of them its all they know). Who can I blame?

Of the steel swordfighhters and collectors, many have quit. Others have let their frustrations show. Most are quietly waiting, clinging on to the few craftsmen they can trust to not add wood to steel; hoping for a resurgence of steel.

I like it, but as a history buff and sword collector myself there is one issue I have with whats written above.

Arguably the best swordsman to ever walk the earth in Japan is Miyamoto Musashi. He is the man who wrote the Book of Five Rings, a book well worth reading. After he killed enough people, he decided to arm himself with two Bokken, wooden swords. He never once lost a fight.

Yet another multiplayer focused game where the devs eventually admit most people play solo. And yet next time the debate comes up someone will tell me multiplayer matters above all else and I am a minority.

AnointedSword wrote on Aug 10, 2012, 22:58:I love how people were saying this game was dead. I find it funny because of the actual data that we have on this company. Blizzard has showed support for their games second to none. Take away all the class warfare- rich versus poor- arguments and you have a company that supported D2 for years! Name another company (not community patches) that supported a game as long? The list is real short...

I also find it funny that people say this game has zero content after you beat the game. Clearly, you have never played other action RPGs or...I will keep the negative thoughts to myself. With that said, more content will come via patches and boxed expansions (just like most every other game in this category).

Why is it too little...too late? Blizzard will get this game up to par long before an expansion will come out. It isn't like you have to pay a monthly fee or by another copy to try out the new patches...

Have fun playing your single-player game online.

Number one reason I won't be buying it any time soon. I might give it a shot when it's $10. But this whole thing about "balancing" weapons/classes/drops/auction house and multiplayer when at its heart it is a single player game, and the whole "being allowed to play as long as you are online". Rubberbanding, lost saves, disconnects...no thanks.

Yeah best method to play this game.I think it was fun the first time playing through it. Even the second time and the 3rd time, but then huge issues become evident and Blizzard "fixing" the complete opposite, so I quit.

It is worth $10, because it was fun for a while. But this is nowhere near Diablo 1 or 2. I played 1 & 2 for months, but after 2 weeks playing Diablo 3, it was just not possible for me anymore.

Oh that is so lame... You will PAY for your use of inappropriate dialogue!- Mojo Jojo

AnointedSword wrote on Aug 10, 2012, 22:58:I love how people were saying this game was dead. I find it funny because of the actual data that we have on this company. Blizzard has showed support for their games second to none. Take away all the class warfare- rich versus poor- arguments and you have a company that supported D2 for years! Name another company (not community patches) that supported a game as long? The list is real short...

I also find it funny that people say this game has zero content after you beat the game. Clearly, you have never played other action RPGs or...I will keep the negative thoughts to myself. With that said, more content will come via patches and boxed expansions (just like most every other game in this category).

Why is it too little...too late? Blizzard will get this game up to par long before an expansion will come out. It isn't like you have to pay a monthly fee or by another copy to try out the new patches...

Have fun playing your single-player game online.

Number one reason I won't be buying it any time soon. I might give it a shot when it's $10. But this whole thing about "balancing" weapons/classes/drops/auction house and multiplayer when at its heart it is a single player game, and the whole "being allowed to play as long as you are online". Rubberbanding, lost saves, disconnects...no thanks.

AnointedSword wrote on Aug 10, 2012, 22:58:I love how people were saying this game was dead. I find it funny because of the actual data that we have on this company. Blizzard has showed support for their games second to none. Take away all the class warfare- rich versus poor- arguments and you have a company that supported D2 for years! Name another company (not community patches) that supported a game as long? The list is real short...

I also find it funny that people say this game has zero content after you beat the game. Clearly, you have never played other action RPGs or...I will keep the negative thoughts to myself. With that said, more content will come via patches and boxed expansions (just like most every other game in this category).

Why is it too little...too late? Blizzard will get this game up to par long before an expansion will come out. It isn't like you have to pay a monthly fee or by another copy to try out the new patches...

You come on this board, in this space, and claim to be enjoying yourself in a game that we don't approve of? Fuck you. Fuck everything you stand for. This game didn't meet the expectations of the thin edge of the wedge, and for that, it's a failure. Despite the fact that it set record sales, and despite the fact that enough people are still playing to bitch in an epic fashion, you're WRONG WRONG WRONG.

And you're a horrible person for having a good time with it, you filthy fucking casual. Your entertainment is invalid. Your joy? Non-existant. From now on you'd better fucking check in with us on how to feel before you feel it, lest you post something here that we don't like. THEN... THEN you will see what a stern talking to really is.

Quoted Because this is quite possibly the best post ive read on Bluesnews. Message me and ill Gift you your game of choice via Steam or Amazon.

EDIT: Bold fail

So its a paid post then.

Oh that is so lame... You will PAY for your use of inappropriate dialogue!- Mojo Jojo

You come on this board, in this space, and claim to be enjoying yourself in a game that we don't approve of? Fuck you. Fuck everything you stand for. This game didn't meet the expectations of the thin edge of the wedge, and for that, it's a failure. Despite the fact that it set record sales, and despite the fact that enough people are still playing to bitch in an epic fashion, you're WRONG WRONG WRONG.

And you're a horrible person for having a good time with it, you filthy fucking casual. Your entertainment is invalid. Your joy? Non-existant. From now on you'd better fucking check in with us on how to feel before you feel it, lest you post something here that we don't like. THEN... THEN you will see what a stern talking to really is.

Duh. Way to oversimplify it.

I like my steel swords; I'm a bit of a collector, but there aren't many craftsmen who make them any more; lately more and more people are getting into swordfighting and are taking preference to wooden swords which are easier to start with and more suited to casual bouts. I'm happy for them because swordfighting is gaining popularity and they are enjoying a fine sport and honing their swordsmanship. Hell, every now and then I use a wooden sword just for the change and its refreshing.

But what is starting to happen is that now its very hard to find a craftsman making new steel swords; since the majority of the new generation of swordfighters are quite content with wooden swords, the demand for wooden swords has skyrocketed. Its quite possible that later they prefer steel swords (if there are any left to find) as they experiment a bit. Who knows?

I dont judge them; my preference is simply for steel swords. Even if I try to get a new steel sword made, the craftsmen are using wooden parts as part of the structure, at first it was just the hilt, but now a blade itself which merely has a steel wire running through is sold as a steel sword; it has become very hard to find a place to get a new one made in the old style, which was once very popular but now seems to be dying.

Of course I feel a bit frustrated; But its not fair to blame the new generation that prefer wooden swords (for a lot of them its all they know). Who can I blame?

Of the steel swordfighhters and collectors, many have quit. Others have let their frustrations show. Most are quietly waiting, clinging on to the few craftsmen they can trust to not add wood to steel; hoping for a resurgence of steel.

You come on this board, in this space, and claim to be enjoying yourself in a game that we don't approve of? Fuck you. Fuck everything you stand for. This game didn't meet the expectations of the thin edge of the wedge, and for that, it's a failure. Despite the fact that it set record sales, and despite the fact that enough people are still playing to bitch in an epic fashion, you're WRONG WRONG WRONG.

And you're a horrible person for having a good time with it, you filthy fucking casual. Your entertainment is invalid. Your joy? Non-existant. From now on you'd better fucking check in with us on how to feel before you feel it, lest you post something here that we don't like. THEN... THEN you will see what a stern talking to really is.

Exactly. The neighbor's girl (3yo) is happily playing with dog poo, so let her! IT'S FUN! You might even want to join her!

You come on this board, in this space, and claim to be enjoying yourself in a game that we don't approve of? Fuck you. Fuck everything you stand for. This game didn't meet the expectations of the thin edge of the wedge, and for that, it's a failure. Despite the fact that it set record sales, and despite the fact that enough people are still playing to bitch in an epic fashion, you're WRONG WRONG WRONG.

And you're a horrible person for having a good time with it, you filthy fucking casual. Your entertainment is invalid. Your joy? Non-existant. From now on you'd better fucking check in with us on how to feel before you feel it, lest you post something here that we don't like. THEN... THEN you will see what a stern talking to really is.

Quoted Because this is quite possibly the best post ive read on Bluesnews. Message me and ill Gift you your game of choice via Steam or Amazon.

Sounds ok but not enough to bring me back yet. For all the talk of AH getting cheaper it isnt really. You still need many many millions to get kit that can make you survice act 2 & 3 inferno. My poor witch hunter is still a shadow of his former self in inferno as opposed to the pre inferno powerhouse he was.

I'll wait till 1.1 or the DLC and see how that goes. Still, it isnt like im paying any monthly fees so these updates are effectively free.

Like many others I have had fun with D3 although the major nail in the coffin was the increase death costs. This pretty much stopped me and my friends "fooling about" and having fun. This isnt WOW so why did they care how much you died?

What they could have done was take the HIGHER of individual or group MF/GF that would help. That way the tank can be a full tank for the group and still benefit in some way whereas the poor sap who has GF/MF gear kiting away will get a better benefit

Its not the cough that carries you off but the coffin they carry you off in.